{"id":520,"date":"2013-02-27T23:28:05","date_gmt":"2013-02-27T23:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=520"},"modified":"2013-02-24T23:45:53","modified_gmt":"2013-02-24T23:45:53","slug":"heart-health-great-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/02\/heart-health-great-things.html","title":{"rendered":"Heart Health: Great Things!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image courtesy of cooldesign\/FreeDigitalPhotos.net<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am constantly amazed by the great strides researchers in all aspects of medicine are making to identify, diagnose and treat heart problems. From ethical research focused on using an adult’s own cardiac stem cells to regenerate heart tissue that has died due to heart attack, to the medications that have been and are being developed to treat all manner of cardiac-related illnesses, we live in exciting times!<\/p>\n

But perhaps most exciting to me is the control that I have regarding heart health. \u00a0So often, when you have a chronic illness, you might feel like a victim to it and the restrictions it poses (and the pain and discomfort). It is true that other medical conditions, such as lupus, predispose some to particular cardiac problems. But, even so, I can control how and when I exercise, what I eat, how I approach stress, and other things that have a great impact on wellness in general and heart health specifically. I can talk with my doctor about things I can do better, or add, so that I’m kept on track. I can understand the dangers of smoking – and never, ever even think of starting. I can keep learning and use that knowledge to my and others’ benefit.<\/p>\n

And, of course, I can keep my spirit strong and attitude positive so that, if and when problems do arise, I’m better able to cope and do what’s best at that time.<\/p>\n

Although February is coming to a close, we don’t have to stop increasing our awareness of heart-health issues. In fact, the more we hold hearts close, the better we’ll be throughout the rest of the year and beyond.<\/p>\n

Blessings for the day,<\/p>\n

Maureen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I am constantly amazed by the great strides researchers in all aspects of medicine are making to identify, diagnose and treat heart problems. From ethical research focused on using an adult’s own cardiac stem cells to regenerate heart tissue that has died due to heart attack, to the medications that have been and are being…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":548,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,43,4,383],"tags":[434,29,361,386,433,9],"class_list":["post-520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronic-pain-and-illness","category-encouragement-in-life","category-words-of-encouragemnent-and-info-for-all","category-heart-health","tag-cardiac-health","tag-chronic-illness","tag-exercise","tag-heart-health-2","tag-taking-charge","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\nHeart Health: Great Things! - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/02\/heart-health-great-things.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Heart Health: Great Things! - Good Days...Bad Days With Maureen Pratt\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I am constantly amazed by the great strides researchers in all aspects of medicine are making to identify, diagnose and treat heart problems. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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